Soccer: Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole is looking forward to the challenge of playing for "the biggest club in the country" and insists his move to Merseyside was a "no-brainer", decided purely on football terms. His arrival coincides with that of Scottish defender Danny Wilson, but Spaniard Albert Riera looks to be on his way to Olympiacos.
Much was made of the wage demands - reportedly €107,000-a-week - the England international was making having become a free agent following his release from Chelsea.
And having previously played for West Ham he was expected to remain in London, with Arsenal and Tottenham both interested, but was convinced Anfield was the place to start afresh.
Cole said he remembered the atmosphere when he played at the ground for Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final of 2005, which Liverpool won 1-0 before going on to lift the trophy in Istanbul, and was looking forward to experiencing that on a more regular basis.
“This is a massive club. I tried to take everything out of the equation, take the financial and location side out and just thought in football terms,” said the England international, who has signed a four-year contract after passing his medical.
“I thought about the semi-final of the Champions League in 2005 when I ran onto the field and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
“I was thinking about playing in that atmosphere every week and that swung it for me.
“I know I have made the right decision and I am looking forward to the challenge.
“I have played in London all my life. I could have stayed at Chelsea because the fans loved me and I won things, but I wanted to challenge myself and when I knew Liverpool were interested it was a no-brainer because they are the biggest club in the country.”
New Anfield manager Roy Hodgson says Cole’s motives were the most pleasing aspect of the move.
"We wanted to make it clear that we wanted him for football reasons and only if he fitted in with our wage structure," he said. "I'm pleased to say that Joe has chosen Liverpool to come and play football - and not because of the money.
"That's a very satisfying thing for me as a manager and for the club itself."
Hodgson, however, admits it is going to take more than the signing of Cole to get the club back on track.
"It's not going to be an overnight thing," said the new Reds boss at the club's training camp in Switzerland. "Last season was a very disappointing season for the club in every respect, culminating in a popular manager leaving.
"You don't change doom and gloom or disenchantment with a signing or two.
"I would never want to dupe the Liverpool public by telling them all is rosy now because Joe Cole has signed.
"There's a lot more work to do, a lot more players are needed and we as a football team have got to make certain that when we take to the field the supporters will see there is something different and that we are making the biggest effort we can make.
"Then we can only hope they back us like they have always backed the club in the past.
"We have to get a good atmosphere back into the club, the Liverpool atmosphere that I've known and seen and experienced - often to my cost - over the years.
"We have to get away from the feeling that everything's not right and the club is going downhill because that isn't the case at all."
As expected, Liverpool have also completed the signing of Rangers defender Wilson after he passed his medical on Merseyside today.
The 18-year-old centre-back has joined on a three-year contract.
Liverpool will pay the Scottish side €2.4 million up front with a further €3.6 million dependent on appearances and add-ons.
Olympiacos manager Ewald Lienen expects winger Riera to sign for the Greek club by the end of the week.
The 28-year-old Spaniard joined the Reds for around €11.5 million two years ago from Espanyol, but he was frozen out last season after openly criticising then manager Rafael Benitez.
"Unless there is a major surprise then he will be our player,” said Lienen today. "He is a great player who has proven his worth both at club level and for the Spanish national side."